Drivers of 700 ActiveE Vehicles Have Collectively Driven 6.1 Million Miles, Saved Over 275,000 Gallons of Gas and More Than $740,000

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – April 11, 2013… BMW today launched the Electronaut Effect, a new digital tool that gives consumers access to key aggregated data about the range, cost savings and positive environmental impact that actual BMW ActiveE drivers – called “Electronauts” – are experiencing across the country. This unfiltered information, updated weekly, will help inform consumers’ decision about purchasing an electric vehicle.

The Electronaut Effect at www.bmwusa.com/ElectronautEffect features aggregate car data for the 700 BMW ActiveEs – the first fully-electric BMWs – and their drivers, participating in the BMW ActiveE Field Trial that began January 2012. This streamlined data is presented in three basic categories: Range (i.e., most miles driven in one day), Savings (i.e., total money saved), and Environment (i.e., gallons of gas not used).

As of today, Electronauts have driven approximately 6.1 million miles; the most miles driven in one day by a single Electronaut was 367.7. These ActiveE drivers have already saved more than $740,000 collectively by driving the all-electric cars (calculated by subtracting the money they spent on charging, from the amount they did not spend on gas). Together, they have saved well over 275,000 gallons of gas.

“The Electronaut Effect is an exciting tool because it offers consumers unvarnished, hard data on the driving performance of our fleet of ActiveE vehicles, providing a very accurate picture of the BMW electric vehicle experience and the benefits of all-electric driving,” said Jacob Harb, head of Electric Vehicle Operations and Strategy, BMW of North America. “This is an important, new resource to help drivers considering an electric vehicle purchase make informed decisions.”

The 700 Electronauts, meanwhile, will have access to a related tool, available at www.BMWActivateTheFuture.com that offers a detailed, more in-depth look at data specific to their BMW ActiveE, as well as to the entire fleet. Electronauts can see the average number of times he or she charges their ActiveE per day, average remaining charge at the end of the day, and their personal reduction in driving-related carbon footprint. Electronauts may also choose to opt into a “Current Standings” section that lets them compare select statistics to those of other Electronauts. They can view the top 25 Electronauts in the U.S. for select data points and can see their current ranks for these statistics. Or they can compare West Coast vs. East Coast driving data, such as total miles driven by coast.

Are they actually going to build a fully electric 2 series or sell this 1 series or will it be an ugly fwd i3 only...

The i3 is rear wheel drive. I think it looks pretty good, but looks are certainly subjective. The picture below is the concept coupe, but it's 95% of how the production car will look. The biggest difference is the addition of the rear coach doors. They won't have exterior handles so all you'll really see is a shorter front door and an additional seam right before the rear wheel well.